Guidelines

The Eastern Health Disease Site Groups are a collaboration of health-care professionals involved in the screening, diagnosis and management of cancer in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. These professionals include representatives from the provincial screening programs, genetics, radiology, pathology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pharmacy, nursing, social work, palliative care and administration.

Process for the development of guidelines

The desire to develop valid, high quality cancer care management guidelines led the Eastern Health Disease Site Groups to decide to adapt existing ones using the ADAPTE process. Discipline-specific working groups were formed from the existing membership of the various groups to help develop the guidelines required for each field. Literature searches were carried out by the Guidelines Coordinator, reviewed by the working group, and recommendations formulated.

Once developed, a draft guideline is reviewed at the monthly meeting of the Eastern Health Disease Site Group for whom it was written. Feedback is welcomed, any revisions are carried out and consensus, where possible, is reached. The guideline is then circulated to select target users for feedback, and revisions made accordingly.

Guidelines are then presented to the administrative body for approval, and once approved, distributed to appropriate health care providers in the province.

Who should use these Cancer Care Management Guidelines?

The cancer care management guidelines are valuable to family physicians, specialists and other health-care professionals. These guidelines will be reviewed and/or updated every three to five years, unless new research prompts an earlier review.